Appropriations, Procurement, and Acquisitions
GAO Report Highlights How the Federal Government Uses Commercial Satellite Imagery Bought By NRO and NGA (Via Satellite) A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlights the federal use of commercial imagery provided through the National Reconnaissance Office
Op-ed | Space Force faces key questions ahead of next launch services procurement (SpaceNews) The commercial launch market is undergoing a revolution, with providers finding increasing demand outpacing supply.
Pentagon officials tout new office aimed at linking defense startups with private funds (Breaking Defense) “We're working with all the folks who have capital — could be private capital, could be whoever — to provide the investment," said Heidi Shyu, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering.
Air Force chief: Military must ‘pick some winners’ among startups (Defense News) “What we’ve got to do is actually pick some winners,” Gen. CQ Brown said at the Reagan National Defense Forum.
Department of Defense Announces Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability Procurement (US Department of Defense) The Department of Defense announces the awarding of the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) contracts to Amazon Web Services Inc. (AWS), Google Support Services LLC, Microsoft Corporation, and Oracle. JWCC is a multiple-award contract vehicle that will provide the DoD the opportunity to acquire commercial cloud capabilities and services directly from the commercial Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) at the speed of mission, at all classification levels, from headquarters to the tactical edge.
Pentagon awards Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle $9B cloud contract (Breaking Defense) JWCC is a multi-vendor, multi-cloud follow up to the infamous single-source Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract, which was worth up to $10 billion and canceled in 2021.
DoD ends cloud contracting saga with four awards (Federal News Network) Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Google and Oracle won spots on DoD’s Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) vehicle.
Office of Space Commerce Issues 7 Awards for Commercial Space Traffic Coordination Pilot (Via Satellite) The Office of Space Commerce (OSC) awarded contracts this week to seven commercial companies for space situational awareness (SSA) data analysis as part
NASA Awards $57M Contract to Build Roads on the Moon (Nextgov.com) The award will go toward developing technologies to build infrastructure like landing pads and roads on the surface of the moon.
NGA's Stardust will modernize Earth models for GPS, mapping (Breaking Defense) NGA is looking to both upgrade its software-based terrestrial data models and transition them to a cloud environment.
US Navy creates innovation center, advisory board to focus investments (Defense News) A new Navy Innovation Center will work with industry and academia to ensure the service remains ahead of tech trends over the long term.
An open call to the visionaries in government to change DoD culture (Defense News) Are we willing to let go of the culture and policies that stifle significant progress in advancing military capability?
Mexico Explores Dedicated Earth Observation Program With Satellogic (Via Satellite) Satellogic signed a letter of intent with Mexico’s space agency for a dedicated satellite constellation to deliver multi-spectral imaging. Agencia
Space Business and Market Trends
Regional Operators: What is Their Place in the New Satellite World? (Via Satellite) There is a new world order. People around the globe want, need – no, rather must have – data. And lots of it. Regardless of where you live, work or play and the disparities that exist, people are unified in their demands and expectations. A quality connection readily available is the new black of yesteryear. In parallel, the era of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations has dawned, and consolidation is strong and unnoticeable.
5 Key Acquisitions in National Security in 2022 (ClearanceJobs) The last year or so has opened up a lot of movement and growth in national security. The only thing constant in life is change.
E-Space to Acquire CommAgility for $14.5M (Via Satellite) Satellite startup E-Space announced a deal on Monday to acquire CommAgility from the Wireless Telecom Group, Inc. for $14.5 million. E-Space said
German Startup OroraTech Raises $16M for Climate Mission (Via Satellite) OroraTech, a Munich-based startup working to monitor thermal data from space extended its Series A funding round with 15 million euros ($15.8 million)
Slingshot Aerospace Raises $41M to Grow its Space Safety Platform (Via Satellite) Slingshot Aerospace raised $40.85 million in an oversubscribed Series A2 funding round announced Tuesday, to grow and commercialize its space situational
SpaceX rolls out new business line focused on military satellite services (SpaceNews) SpaceX on Dec. 2 revealed a new business segment called Starshield aimed at U.S. national security government agencies.
SpaceX Debuts National Security Business Line Called Starshield (Via Satellite) SpaceX is venturing into Earth observation (EO) and hosted payloads for national security use, with a new business line called Starshield. The company
SpaceX goes full defense contractor with national security-focused Starshield (TechCrunch) Starshield, a new SpaceX vertical, will provide "government entities" with secure communications and bespoke satellite designs.
Inside SpaceX’s Lucrative New Government Satellite Program (The Information) Every two hours or so, a satellite that SpaceX built for the Department of Defense circles Earth. The exact purpose of the satellite isn’t clear: The project is confidential. But its significance for SpaceX, the rocket company founded and led by Elon Musk, is coming into focus. That satellite is ...
SpaceX unveils 'Starshield,' a military variation of Starlink satellites (CNBC) Elon Musk's SpaceX is expanding its Starlink satellite technology into military applications with a new business line called Starshield.
Elon Musk’s Rocket Man at SpaceX Channels His Boss (The Information) Once, when top SpaceX executive Mark Juncosa was frustrated by poor cellphone service in a meeting at company headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif., he pointed to a SpaceX employee in the meeting and told them it was their responsibility to fix the cell coverage in the room, according to a person ...
SES Begins a New Era for its US Government Business With SES Space & Defense (Via Satellite) SES Government Solutions has a new name. SES has revealed that it is changing the name to SES Space & Defense, a change in which it says reflects a
Rocket Lab Creates Subsidiary for National Security Customers (Via Satellite) Rocket Lab has created a U.S. subsidiary to serve the U.S. defense and intelligence community, Rocket Lab National Security LLC (RLNS), the company
UltiSat and Integrasys Team Up to Serve Defense Customers (Via Satellite) UltiSat and Integrasys are joining forces as they target more key business from the likes of the U.S. Defense Department and NATO. The aim of the
NASA Finalizes $3.2B Deal with Boeing for SLS Rockets (Via Satellite) NASA finalized a $3.2 billion contract with Boeing to manufacture the core and upper stages for future Space Launch System (SLS) rockets. The SLS rocket,
Terran Orbital Launches Electro-Optical Solutions Group (Via Satellite) Terran Orbital has formed a new business division, the Optical Solutions Group (OSG) focused on electro-optical (EO) satellite imaging products. The new
Mangata Networks Brings New Space Hub to Scotland (Via Satellite) Mangata Networks is to create a new space engineering, manufacturing, and operations hub in Scotland, the company announced Dec. 6. The company said it
Mynaric to Use Redwire, BigBear.ai Cyber Tools for DARPA Space-BACN Contract (Via Satellite) Mynaric will use cybersecurity tools developed by Redwire and BigBear.ai for its optical communications terminal for the Space-BACN program. Redwire and
Sizing Up the Satellite-to-Cell Opportunity (Satellite Today) From the spectrum battles brewing to the impact on consumers, time will tell whether satellite-to-cell services will emerge as a winning bet for an industry eager to establish a foothold in the lucrative wireless broadband market.
Sidus Space to Expand to Europe With a Netherlands Office (Via Satellite) Sidus Space is planning to expand to Europe by opening a new office in the Netherlands, the company announced Thursday. The company plans to expand its
Faces in Satellite: Abdul Halim Abd Aziz Has Big Goals at Measat (Via Satellite) This article is part of a new series, in which Via Satellite interviews people in the industry at different points of their careers, with a focus on
Launch Services
Arianespace Lofts 3 Satellites to Orbit for ESA and Intelsat (Via Satellite) Arianespace launched satellites for Europe and Intelsat in a triple-payload Ariane 5 mission on Tuesday. The mission, one of the last for the Ariane 5
New Zealand's Rocket Lab prepares for first launch from US, as it eyes national security growth (Breaking Defense) Peter Beck, the firm's CEO, has big plans to follow the first launch from his new US facility.
Intelsat Selects the Ariane 6 to Launch IS-41 and 44 (Via Satellite) Intelsat has tapped Arianespace to launch two software-defined satellites, IS-41 and IS-44, on an Ariane 6 rocket in 2025. The companies announced the
SpaceX Launches its First Mission for OneWeb (Via Satellite) SpaceX performed its first mission for OneWeb on Thursday, sending 40 satellites to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) on a Falcon 9 rocket. The mission notable in two
US Space Force
U.S. forces launch space unit in South Korea amid North's growing threats (Reuters) U.S. Forces Korea launched a new space forces unit on Wednesday as the allies ramp up efforts to better counter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats.
Space Force set to establish CENTCOM-focused component (Stars and Stripes) The new command will report directly to U.S. Central Command leaders and take responsibility for space-based operations within Central Command’s area of responsibility, according to a CENTCOM statement.
Space Development Agency again delays inaugural satellite launch (Defense News) The delay to the first mission will also impact the schedule for SDA’s second launch, which had been slated for March but will now fly in June.
Space Force must adapt to strengthen commercial ties, Raymond says (Defense News) Former Chief of Space Operations Jay Raymond, in his first public appearance since retiring, emphasized the importance of commercial partnerships.
Recruiting Crisis? Not at Space Force (Defense One) The youngest and smallest service says it pays to be both choosy and inclusive.
The Space Force won a 'Call of Duty' tournament and then the trophy got launched into space (Task & Purpose) The Call of Duty Endowment launched the trophy the Space Force earned for beating other branches in a Call of Duty tournament in 2021.
Military Space Operations
Space Command promotes role in Artemis 1 - SpaceNews (SpaceNews) As Artemis 1 nears its conclusion, U.S. Space Command is using the mission to highlight its role in supporting NASA.
DoD Space Policy Director Lays Out China’s Military Space Developments (Via Satellite) China has launched 150 satellites so far this year to bring its total to 650 and is expected to develop an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon targeting
Products, Services, and Solutions
Boeing delivers novel MEO communications satellite to SES (Military & Aerospace Electronics) Each satellite is equipped with more than 5,000 steerable, flexible beams capable of allocating power wherever it is needed.
Videosoft Joins Inmarsat’s Elevate Program (Via Satellite) Videosoft has joined Inmarsat’s Elevate program, the company announced Dec. 13. Elevate is a development program, ecosystem, and marketplace for providers
OneWeb Orders 10,000 Hughes LEO Terminals for Enterprise Use (Via Satellite) OneWeb placed an order with Hughes Network Systems for 10,000 Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) terminals for enterprise and government customers, the companies
Accenture and Planet Collaborate on Geospatial Intelligence for Supply Chain and Sustainability (Via Satellite) Accenture and Planet have formed a partnership to collaborate on sustainability and impact initiatives, including supply chain strategy and climate risk
Iceye SAR Data to Support European Maritime Safety Agency’s Monitoring (Via Satellite) Iceye’s satellite data will support maritime operations under a new contract the operator signed with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA),
Arabsat Signs Broadcast Capacity Deal with Ninetnine (Via Satellite) Arabsat has signed a new capacity deal with Ninetnine that sees the content provider launch its live, linear entertainment TV channel Helwa TV on Arabsat.
SiriusXM Orders 2 More Satellites from Maxar (Via Satellite) SiriusXM ordered two more satellites from Maxar Technologies, SXM-11 and -12, the companies announced Tuesday. Maxar is now developing four Geostationary
Marlink Expands Deal With SES for O3b mPOWER Capacity (Via Satellite) Satellite service provider Marlink has expanded its long-term partnership with SES for dedicated capacity on the O3b mPOWER constellation. SES and Marlink
SiriusXM Orders 2 More Satellites from Maxar (Via Satellite) SiriusXM ordered two more satellites from Maxar Technologies, SXM-11 and -12, the companies announced Tuesday. Maxar is now developing four Geostationary
Spirent Brings Realistic Testing to LEO Satellite Applications (TimesTech) Spirent Communications announced availability of SimORBIT specifically developed for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite simulation.
SpiderOak and TriSept Form Partnership to Protect Against Cyber Threats (Via Satellite) SpiderOak has formed a strategic partnership with TriSept with the aim of providing a comprehensive end-to-end security system capable of keeping critical
New High-Resolution Radar-as-a-Service Promises to Dramatically Change the Way TV Stations Cover Weather (Broadcast Beat) To average viewers, TV stations in their markets all seem to have the latest weather radar with cutting edge technology, providing live radar feeds of severe weather in their region.
Globalstar Will Support IoT Crop Monitoring in Argentina for Wiagro (Via Satellite) Globalstar has signed a deal with Argentinian agtech startup Wiagro to supply IoT transmitters to be used to remotely monitor crops stored in silos.
Satellite and Ground Station Operations
Space Forecast: Euroconsult Estimates 2,500 Satellites Will Be Launched Per Year in the Next Decade (Via Satellite) Euroconsult estimates that more than 2,500 satellites will be launched on average every year between now and 2031, driven by commercial constellations.
2022: An Eventful Year in Satcom (Via Satellite) The past year has been one of the most eventful on record for the satcom industry.
OneWeb and Vivacom Invest in Ground Station Infrastructure in Bulgaria (Via Satellite) OneWeb is developing new ground infrastructure in Bulgaria, the company announced, Nov. 29. Vivacom, part of the United Group network is constructing a
How Satellite NB-IoT is Useful for More Than Just IoT (Via Satellite) With the highly anticipated Release 17 from 3GPP, narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) is now on a fast track to becoming the first technology to bridge the worlds of
Policy, Strategy, and Regulation
UN General Assembly Adopts Draft Resolution Against ASAT Tests (Via Satellite) The United Nations General Assembly recently adopted a number of draft resolutions about space weapons and space norms, voting to approve a draft
US call for halting kinetic anti-satellite tests gets boost from UN vote (Breaking Defense) France just last week became the ninth nation to publicly join the moratorium — following Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Switzerland, and Australia.
US, allies mull paths for engaging China to ward off conflict over space exploration (Breaking Defense) "I'm a Star Trek fan, so I'm optimistic," said former NASA official Mike Gold about the Artemis Accords facilitating space cooperation for terrestrial rivals.
NASA chief says U.S. will beat China in race to the moon (Nikkei Asia) Bill Nelson decries Beijing's lack of transparency, praises Japan as a partner
French President Macron Visits NASA Headquarters With VP Kamala Harris to Commend US/France Collaboration (Via Satellite) France’s President Emmanuel Macron visited NASA’s headquarters in Washington on Nov. 30 while in the U.S. for a state visit, and met with Vice President
US says close Australia ties ‘secret sauce’ in space race with China (South China Morning Post) US Space Force lieutenant general Nina Armagno said Australia’s location represented a ‘pot of a gold at the end of the rainbow’ for the two nations’ space cooperation.
Readout of Vice President Harris’s Meeting with President Macron on Space Cooperation | The White House (The White House) Vice President Kamala Harris and President Emmanuel Macron of France met today at the headquarters of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Cyber, Speed, and UFOs: A Tour of Tech Provisions in the 2023 NDAA (Defense One) The defense policy bill also prods the intelligence community to follow other defense agencies’ emerging-tech efforts.
'Compromise' NDAA boosts Space Force budget, but keeps tight reins on policy decisions (Breaking Defense) In somewhat of a surprise, the HASC provision to force the Space Force to create a Space National Guard was stripped from the bill in the negotiations between the two sides of Capitol Hill.
Cyber, Speed, and UFOs: A Tour of Tech Provisions in the 2023 NDAA (Defense One) The defense policy bill also prods the intelligence community to follow other defense agencies’ emerging-tech efforts.
FCC Approves SpaceX’s Starlink Gen 2 Application Up to 7,500 Satellites (Via Satellite) The FCC approved part of SpaceX’s application for the second generation of the Starlink constellation, which will allow SpaceX to deploy up to 7,500
FCC authorizes SpaceX to begin deploying up to 7,500 next-generation Starlink satellites (CNBC) The FCC issued a key authorization to Elon Musk's SpaceX, granting approval to launch up to 7,500 of its next-generation Starlink internet satellites.
Stratcom Gets New Leader (U.S. Department of Defense) U.S. Strategic Command is developing the credible capabilities and concepts needed to prevent conflict in this century, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said at a Stratcom change of command
New NGA Campus Under Construction in St. Louis Reaches Enclosure Milestone (HS Today) The project is working to meet federal labor goals of 14.7 percent work participation for minorities and 6.9 percent for women.
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
Astroscale Teams up with JAXA for In-Space Refueling Project (Via Satellite) Astroscale and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are looking to jointly create a new satellite refueling service, the two organizations
NASA’s Artemis I Orion spacecraft returns to Earth (Washington Post) NASA’s Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean Sunday, completing a major step toward returning astronauts to the lunar surface with a successful test mission of a capsule designed to carry humans to orbit around the moon and returning safely to Earth.
Splashdown as Nasa’s Orion spacecraft returns to Earth (The Telegraph) The unmanned capsule entered the Pacific Ocean safely after a nerve-racking journey through the Earth’s atmosphere
NASA’s Orion capsule blazes home from test flight to moon (POLITICO) “I’m overwhelmed,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said from Mission Control.
The Orion Moon Capsule Is Back. What Happens Next? (WIRED) The craft survived a 26-day voyage and a scorching descent. Now it’s time for NASA engineers to learn what went wrong—and what went right.
NASA’s Overshadowed Moon Launch (The Atlantic) After a successful takeoff, a crewless capsule is on its way to the moon. Where’s the fanfare?
Sailors Recover Orion Spacecraft After Million-Mile Swing Around the Moon - USNI News (USNI News) The post has been updated with a statement from NASA. A team of sailors aboard USS Portland (LPD-27) recovered an Orion space capsule after it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday after a 25-day trip around the moon. Orion is an unmanned capsule that was launched into space on Nov. 16 as part …
Defense Logistics Agency Powers NASA Orion Spacecraft (US Department of Defense) After its historic 25-day, 1.4-million-mile journey that ventured beyond the Moon, NASA’s Orion returned to Earth on Dec. 11.
SpaceX launches Japanese lander, UAE rover to the moon (Space.com) A tiny NASA moon probe that aims to hunt for lunar water ice went along for the ride as well.
Successful End of NASA Moon Mission Shifts Attention to SpaceX (New York Times) The Orion capsule’s splashdown in the Pacific Ocean moved NASA into the next stages of the Artemis program, which will rely on Elon Musk’s rocket company to build a moon lander for astronauts.
Raytheon space-based missile tracker hits programme milestone (Shephard Media) Raytheon's orbital payload for the US Space Force's Missile Track Custody programme has passed a key critical design review.
Space Technology
Astroscale’s ELSA-M Mission to Use Addvalue Data Relay Service (Via Satellite) Astroscale’s upcoming ELSA-M debris capture mission will use Addvalue and Inmarsat’s data relay service to communicate during the mission, the companies
Enabling Cybersecurity in Space With Digital Engineering (AFCEA International) Five keys to ensure future success.
OQ Technology's Pathfinder 5G IoT Mission to Launch in March (Via Satellite) OQ Technology has announced that its ‘MACSAT’ mission supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) will launch in
NASA’s TBIRD Mission Demonstrates 1.4TB Optical Downlink (Via Satellite) NASA’s TBIRD mission recently achieved a record for optical communications in space. The satellite downlinked 1.4 terabytes of data over laser
Orion European Service Module (Airbus) Powering Humankind’s Return to the Moon
Space Science
Galactic anti-nuclei travelers could demystify dark matter (Register) Earth-based experiment provides model result to help expose mysterious substance making up the majority of the Milky Way
James Webb telescope breakthrough lets us ‘see’ dark matter (BGR) Scientists may have figured out a way to make James Webb "see" dark matter, allowing us to map out its distribution like never before.
Using atomic clocks in space to solve dark matter mystery (Innovation News Network) Read about how sending atomic clocks deep into space may help to detect and understand enigmatic dark matter.
Threats and Risks to Space Systems
Cyberspace in space: The out of-this-world challenges ahead (ZDNET) New horizons bring new security threats that will have to be tackled.
Miscellanea
3 Chinese astronauts return to Earth after 6-month mission (AP NEWS) Three Chinese astronauts landed in a northern desert on Sunday after six months working to complete construction of the Tiangong station, a symbol of the country’s ambitious space program, state TV reported.
The Hibernator’s Guide to the Galaxy (WIRED) Scientists are on the verge of figuring out how to put humans in a state of suspended animation. It could be the key to colonizing Mars.
NASA's NIAC Program Gives a Sneak Peek at the Future of Space Travel (Wired) As the agency develops plans for exploring the moon and Mars, it's seeking cutting-edge research that could turn science fiction into reality.
How Space Travel Tries to Kill You and Make You Ugly (Wired) Oh also, it makes you blind and stupid, too.
Algae Caviar, Anyone? What We'll Eat on the Journey to Mars (WIRED) Humans are headed for the cosmos, and we’re taking our appetites with us. What will fill the void when we leave Earth behind?
How We Could Discover Alien Life (The Atlantic) Space reporter Marina Koren on NASA’s plans to travel to the moon, Mars, and Europa—and why it is now studying UAPs
There’s Hope for Life on Europa, a Distant Moon (The Atlantic) Beneath its frozen surface could be a salty ocean—and maybe a comfortable home for small life forms.
Cryptanalysis, "Ulysses," dolphins, and talking to extraterrestrials (Military Embedded Systems) 'Let's take a break from studying the Kill Web and explore something else. Back in the late 1940s, Harvard linguist George Kingsley Zipf picked up a copy of James Joyce's novel "Ulysses" and read it. Although it was acclaimed by the pompous literary pundits in rumpled suits as a masterpiece, Zipf could not believe how incomprehensible and boring it was. In case you were not exposed to it in college, reading "Ulysses" is like being mercilessly waterboarded with the English language by shallow characters, in a dull story with no detectable plot, for an unbearable period of time.
Photographer chosen for first civilian moon trip says ‘visibility’ justifies space tourism (The Telegraph) Rhiannon Adam has previously spoken out about climate change but says large carbon cost of lunar trip is outweighed by positives